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Tyne and Wear commuters face transport fare hike

NORTH EAST business commuters are bracing themselves for an added expense next year when Metro increases its fares for the first time in two years.

The Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority gave the green light to proposals put forward by Metro’s management company, Nexus, for the new new prices.

The increase will see the cost of a single adult ticket rise from £1.40 to £1.50.

The annual Metro saver will also go up by £25 with some fares being removed to simplify the fare structure ahead of the introduction of new ticket machines and Smartcard technology.

Bernard Garner, Director general of Nexus, said: “This is the first time we have had to recommend an increase in Metro fares since January 2009.

“The increases we are proposing have been kept as low as possible.”

Nexus - which owns and manages Metro as part of a £385m programme - froze all Metro fares in 2010.

The 2011 Metro fares will see all child fares capped for a second year in a row while all other ticket prices will rise in line with plus one percent of the Retail Price Index rate of inflation.

Metro season ticket prices have been frozen at 2009 levels for people who opt to renew their tickets online.

Bernard Garner, added: “We face higher Metro running costs and budgets are under pressure, but we have tried to balance this by doing everything possible to reduce the impact on passengers at a time when everyone’s finances are feeling the strain.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .